Backpacking in India

Backpacking in India is not for the faint hearted and anyone who's thinking of travelling here for a long time needs seriously to consider what they want to get out of their trip.

India is renowned for being one of the most challenging places to travel in the world but at the same time, offers truly extraordinary and utterly rewarding experiences for travellers who are willing and open.

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When I first went to India my knowledge of travelling was minimal and my research completely inadequate. I set out with a visa for six months and enough cash to last I had no Idea how long. I was in for the shock of my life when I arrived and nothing could have prepared me for the enthralling adventure that was to follow.

Backpacking Guide to India

There are plenty of resources regarding backpacking in India but none of it complete and most of it out of date, unnecessary and sometimes completely misleading. So, as it is something quite close to my heart I have taken it upon myself to write the ultimate guide to backpacking in India.

All the top destinations are listed below and just pretty much everything you need to know from choosing the right hostel right down to the psychology needed for an extended trip in India.

Deciding where to go

India is a massive country and depending on the length of your visit and what you want to get out of your trip, deciding where to go can be difficult. Below I've listed my favorite backpacking destination in India starting in the south and then in the North. Follow the link if you want to see a list of all the best travel destinations in India or just scroll down to some of the most popular, divided into North and South.

Pushkar is an oasis in a vast desert and offers a real treat for anybody who is backpacking in India. The atmosphere and sheer friendliness of this tiny place is currently unparalleled.

If you can, tie your trip in with the world famous Pushkar Fair when this tiny sleepy town comes alive in a frenzy of activity and excitement (and Camels)!

Making your money go further

Backpacking in India offers the perfect opportunity for very cheap travel. There is of however, one major cost which we all have to face - the place ticket. But, things don't have to be this way... See for your self how to save a fortune on travel.

You may also want to check out my India travel guide for some more tips on making your money go further in India.

Only in India!This short but highly important article highlights some of the problems that travelers face when backpacking in India as well as some of the oddities of travelling in India as a westerner and the psychology required to make the most out of your trip.

Travel AdviceThis link covers all the basics when Backpacking in India and includes everything from avoiding mosquitoes to the exchange rate to travel insurance.

India Travel TipsA few important India travel tips to consider before you head out on your adventure!

My top tip?

We live in a world where world travel is like a trip to Disneyland, nothing is left to chance. Ten credit cards, lonely planets, package holidays, the media and the internet have all changed the way we travel but this was not always the case. For thousands of years people have been travelling all over the place with little more than the clothes on their back and surviving on nothing more than their wit and a bit of luck alone.

This is why backpacking in India is so rewarding. It offers you this opportunity. The opportunity to completely disappear and immerse yourself in another culture, another life and to grow as a person.

Start relying and trusting yourself a bit, I believe it's called 'independence'. I'm talking about the independence that comes with knowing that every decision you make is yours and yours alone. The independence that comes from getting in and out of difficult situations and having the choice to do so, trusting yourself enough to trust others and the independence that opens you to new eventualities, good or bad. I'm talking about the independence that leaves you a little bit wiser when you go to bed than you were when you woke up.

So go, get lost and grow as a person - above all the experiences that backpacking in India offers, this is often the most overlooked but possibly also the most valuable.